Telegram-herald., 1887-12-04
HUNTING FOR RIVER THIEVES.
Creeping In . Beat Aisng the Wharvss
aad Piers ef New York City

Creeping In Beat kisng the Wharvs<
.ad Piers ef New York City
Twas a poor aight for river thieves 20 be
abroad Tasy generally oons out when fog
aad rain sad mist are thickest. jose and
Cregzn bent 20 their oars with short arm
aud shoulder stroke, the kiad that would
drive Boz Cook wild, bu; is the best In the
world for rhis kind Of work Past the silent
colony OF canal boats or Jeanette park the
boat shot along awhile, then halted
Slowly and silently the men padded close
TO the outer edge Of the feet. On one Of the
furthest boats could be seen a man handling
q long hawser. They watched him, satisfied
themselves that be was all right, then rowed
away. Thew crept closely to the edges OF the
wharves and piers, hiding in the friendly
shadows so as to spring out unexpectedly on
any crooked work that might be going on.
They rowed among the fishing smacks at
Fulton Market basin. Baskets, coils Of rope
and hawsers lay around in the bright moon
light Not soul was on guard 1t seemed
strange that none of the gangs came around
20 steal until you remembered the constant
fear Gey are IN OF the harbor polics. Ths
river was IS quiet as q country graveyard on
a stormy winter day Catherine ferry
boat stole with roiseless wheel out Of her
slip. Not even tia warnins whistle was
sounded IS she silently started out
l. TO the basin between the twin "Dove-
docks" crept the police boat Giant floats
laden with freight cars ross and fen slowly
with the tide, Ike sea monsters asleep. A
shanty on small foat was visited There
wasn't sign of life about il. ''Old AIc.
Donald isn't doing any work to-nisht,' said
cue. 'He's 'speculator,' and sometimes
people come here 70 sell him things between
midnight and dayEskss"s McDonsss' 's<iampy
looking rowboats were roored close by.
They bobbsd upaRd down and made queer
noises when the little waves broke on their
sides, as If they were guying the officers for
not finding any one TO arrest.
Foul, pungent and mysterious low tide
odors, suggestive Of old, dsnk tonbs, foated
out from under the pier. Slowly the men
rowed their boat up between the Shiny, gray
timbers. jose flashed the light through the
dim recefSes and scanned every Granny with
care. ''5ometinss they hide boat or two
in there with aice little Jag OF sugar" be
said. s'and snake it cut lively when they
think we're nos looking" There was nothing
70 be seen this tims. though Up past the
bridge the boat skinned, each man keeping
his weather eve lifting for arnphibicus
aI0ft. like some fairy creation Of silver It's
stout cables and heavy guy ropes looked Ike
anstlbs1anfsal cob1 ebs nom The river
Through a-d under al the open piers the
police boat threaded its way Ships and
barks and brizs lay at their moorings on
every haad with not man on guard en-
their dccsSs- And whyl Because ship cap
tains ia this port know that river piracy is n
thing OK the past. The harbor police and
Recorder smythe have made this charming
style Of crime 30 costly that the tough gen.
tfes-n who were addicted to it have swsrn off
In the past three years the remainder II the
once active gangs thas infested this city have
bees ssnssnced to some 100 years imprison-
ment In Sing Sing The Border Gang" on
Hook Gang" used to operate from under the
long wharf ss Corissr's Hook. They are al
gone now-New York World.